Immunivest Corporation

Immunicon Corporation

Brian P Feeley

Paul A Liberti

Dhanesh I Gohel

Galla Chandra Rao

Leon W Terstappen

Yuzhou Wang

Steven Gross

Weixin Tang

Ellen S Church

A method for separation of a mixture of biological entities into at least three distinct, subpopulations. Different antibodies are provided, with each antibody bound to a solid support in a unique manner such that by a manipulation of the physical or chemical environment, the bonds between the antibodies and the solid supports can be selectively broken. The mixed population of cells is incubated with the antibodies. The cells are magnetically separated from a test medium and collected in a monolayer upon a collection surface. Then by manipulation of the physicochemical environment, specific linkages can be broken and desired cell subpopulations released from the collection surface. This method has medically significant diagnostic and therapeutic applications, as entire cell types can be separated from non-malignant medically vital cell types. Cancer can be diagnosed, staged, and monitored. Genetic analysis from maternal blood, CVS, or amniocentesis samples is possible. Diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis or hepatitis can be monitored. This invention also has utility in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, fetal cell research, in vitro fertilization, and gene therapy.

Affinity-binding separation and release of one or more selected subset

A magnetic separator for isolating magnetically-labeled substances of interest, such as immunological agents, from a non-magnetic test medium using a method of high gradient magnetic separation. The target substance is contacted with microscopic magnetic particles having a receptor for binding with the target substance. The test medium containing the magnetic particles is held in a non-magnetic container and placed into a gap within an arrangement of magnets for causing the magnetic particles to adhere to selected locations upon the interior wall of the container. The quantity of magnetic particles may be controlled to cause the magnetic particles collected upon the interior wall to form a monolayer. The magnets are arranged upon a yoke which may provide linear, surrounding multipolar, or partially surrounding multipolar configurations of magnetic pole faces about the gap. The magnetic pole faces may be of differing cross-sectional areas to enhance the magnetic field gradient in regions adjacent to the smaller pole faces. The method and apparatus may be used for such investigations as enzyme-labeled competitive immunoassay and 'sandwich' immunoassays.

Apparatus and methods for magnetic separation featuring external

Magnetic separation apparatus and methods for separating colloidal magnetic particles from a non-magnetic test medium in which the magnetic particles are suspended. The separator comprises a container holding the non-magnetic test medium, one or more magnetic wires disposed substantially within the test medium in the container and an external magnet for producing a magnetic field gradient within the test medium. According to the method of the invention, the container holding the test medium is positioned in the separator, producing a magnetic field gradient operative to cause the magnetic particles to be attracted to the areas surrounding the magnetized wires and to adhere to the wires. The non-magnetic test medium is separated from the magnetized particles, which may conveniently be washed while adhered to the wires, and subjected to further analysis, preferably while on the wires. The apparatus and method are useful in separating various target substances from test media by means of substances coated on the magnetic particles which bind specifically to the target substance. A modified buffer solution, when added to the test medium, reduces non-specific binding of the magnetic colloid particles to cells.

Apparatus and methods for magnetic separation

A magnetic separator for separating magnetic particles from a non-magnetic test medium is disclosed herein. The magnetic separator includes a non-magnetic container having a peripheral wall with an internal surface area for receiving the test medium, and magnetic means for generating a magnetic field gradient within the container in which the magetic field is stronger in the test medium along the internal surface area of the peripheral wall than in the medium most distant from the wall.

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Easton, PA, United States of America

Brian P Feeley